Type 44 alternator cooling?

[DeWitt Harrison]

On Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 12:57 AM, Paul Caouette <paxnobis at gmail.com> wrote:

> [ ... ] Why change voltage output? The literature out there on max
voltage to optimize battery life is quite extensive.

>> [ ... ] My alternator could probably use some additional cooling,
>> especially since I have modified the regulator arrangement to an external
>> unit set for a bit higher output voltage than stock.

That's a fair question.

The Bentley says 13.5 +/-1.0 at the alternator @3000 rpm. And then I've
seen significant drops through the wiring harness, often on the order of
500mV. In practice, I would often see 12.9 to 13.3 volts at various points.
The electrical system on the 5ktqs just always seemed a bit puny to me. And
I've never liked the idea of integrating the voltage regulator into the
alternator: two hot things making each other hotter.

My externally mounted DORF Motorcraft regulator sets the system at the high
end of that range. I like to run the 110A alternator -- also a conversion
-- a little on the hot side for the lights, fuel pump and long-planned EFI
and sound systems. Since the regulator conversion 8 or 9 years ago, I've
not observed unusually short battery life but, to be honest, the battery
spends most all of it's time hanging out with a Battery Tender which floats
it at about 13.2V.

Cheers.